When a saint speaks of sacrifice, they refer to offering something to God as an act of worship, love, or devotion [^6]. This offering can take various forms, reflecting the saint’s understanding of Christian life and their commitment to following Christ [^11].
Understanding Sacrifice
- Definition of Sacrifice: Sacrifice is the offering of an object by a priest to God alone, and the consuming of it to acknowledge Him as the Creator and Lord of all things [^6].
- Union with Christ’s Sacrifice: Saints understand that, through baptism, they are drawn into Christ’s sacrifice, becoming members of His body [^1]. They offer themselves daily as a living and holy sacrifice, uniting their prayers, praise, sufferings, and work with Christ’s total offering, which gives them new value [^1] [^7] [^10].
- Eucharistic Sacrifice: The Eucharist is central to the idea of sacrifice [^9]. It re-presents (makes present) the sacrifice of the cross, making it a memorial and applying its fruit [^2]. The Church, in union with Christ, offers this sacrifice to the Father [^5].
- Love as the Supreme Law: Saints recognize that love is the supreme law of being, as revealed by Christ [^11]. Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross is the ultimate expression of this love, and saints imitate this by giving themselves for others [^11] [^14].
Ways Saints Embody Sacrifice
- Martyrdom: Some saints, like St. Maximilian Kolbe, have sacrificed their lives for others, mirroring Christ’s self-sacrifice [^11]. Martyrdom is considered the “highest gift and supreme proof of love” [^14].
- Offering of Life: Some saints exemplify holiness through constantly offering their lives for others, even until death, in imitation of Christ [^18].
- Service to Others: Saints demonstrate love for God through love for their neighbor, often serving the poorest and most vulnerable [^11] [^17]. This service includes addressing both material and spiritual needs, revealing God’s love to others [^11].
- Heroic Virtue: Saints show heroic virtue by rejecting mediocrity and aspiring to belong totally to Christ [^15]. Their lives reflect a continuous search for evangelical perfection [^15].
- Personal Transformation: Saints allow themselves to be transformed by God’s love, enabling them to love beyond their perceived capabilities [^12]. This transformation leads to a more human way of living within society [^12].
In essence, when a saint speaks of sacrifice, they are referring to a comprehensive offering of oneself to God, expressed through love, service, and a commitment to living out Christ’s example in every aspect of life [^13].
[^1] A Catechism of Christian Doctrine (The Baltimore Catechism No. 3) 919
[^2] Message at the end of the International Year of Volunteers (December 5, 2001) 2
[^3] The Eucharist: Communion with Christ and with one another 109
[^4] CCC 1368
[^5] The Eucharist: Communion with Christ and with one another 110
[^6] Mystici Corporis Christi 82
[^7] CCC 1366
[^8] Ecclesia de Eucharistia 13
[^9] General Audience of 19 April 2023 – Catechesis. The passion for evangelization: the apostolic zeal of the believer. 9. Witnesses: the martyrs
[^10] Gaudete et exsultate 5
[^11] Deus Caritas Est 40
[^12] To Superiors, Officials and Collaborators of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints, on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the institution of the Dicastery (December 19, 2009)
[^13] To the Participants in the Conference Promoted by the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints (14 November 2024) – Speech
[^14] Gaudete et exsultate 138
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